China

Farming Rivers: Huang He & Chang Jiang Fertile soil for farming; fish; animals to hunt Farming – 7000 B.C. Began domesticating animals: pigs and sheep Population grew

Characteristics of Civilization Food surplus Specialization of skills Government Social Classes Religion Cities Writing Arts/Architecture Public works

Civilization Develops Settlements – villages – large towns Walls around towns… keep out flood waters and invaders

Earliest Cultures Little known about these Sanxindui & Hongshon Eventually absorbed into other cultures 3000 B.C. – potters wheel, pottery, water wells Increased population = spread of towns

Archeological Findings Few artifacts…

Tombs in Burial Sites Tombs are filled with objects and food… suggests belief in afterlife Some graves had more items than others… suggests a social order had developed Some had beautiful jewelry and objects out of jade (hard gemstone) suggests specialization and wealth

Artifacts showed Chinese society continued to grow more complex!

Xia Dynasty

China’s first dynasty 2200 B.C. Cut off from other civilizations Founder: Yu the Great Much of what we know comes from legends

Beginning of 1 st Dynasty - Legend Terrible floods struck China Yu dug channels to drain water to the ocean Took 10 years Yu – created major waterways of Northern China

Fact or Fiction? Early rulers were important to ancient Chinese because… Showed how kings helped people solve problems by working together Explained geography and the impact it had on people’s lives

Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty 1 st evidence of a dynasty 1 st evidence of a dynasty 1500’s B.C. 1500’s B.C. Huang He River Valley Huang He River Valley Moved capitals several times… Moved capitals several times… -avoid floods -attack by enemies

Shang Social Order City was arranged by social class City was arranged by social class City home of wealthy, learned, & skilled City home of wealthy, learned, & skilled Most people did not live in the city Most people did not live in the city King – center of political & religious life King – center of political & religious life Nobles Nobles

Nobles advisors or lesser government & religious leaders advisors or lesser government & religious leaders royal family royal family owned much land owned much land passed wealth & power on to sons passed wealth & power on to sons Large homes in city Large homes in city

Shang Nobles Under king Under king nobles – people of high rank in a kingdom nobles – people of high rank in a kingdom Prepared for war Prepared for war Fought against one another over land Fought against one another over land United in times of rebellion from people who refused Shang rule United in times of rebellion from people who refused Shang rule

Shang Social Order King – center of political & religious life King – center of political & religious life Nobles Nobles Warrior leaders Warrior leaders Artisans – lived in groups based on what they made (outside city walls) Artisans – lived in groups based on what they made (outside city walls) Farmers – long hours; little money; heavily taxed Farmers – long hours; little money; heavily taxed Slaves – important source of labor Slaves – important source of labor

The Shang Advancements

Chinese Writing 1st writing system 1st writing system More than 2000 symbols to express words or ideas More than 2000 symbols to express words or ideas Chinese writing based on writing of Shang Chinese writing based on writing of Shang Archeological evidence: Oracle Bones Archeological evidence: Oracle Bones

Crack Readers Oracles – predictors of the future Oracles – predictors of the future Turtle shells and cattle bones Turtle shells and cattle bones

Oracle Bones Priest carved questions about the future on bones Priest carved questions about the future on bones Heated; Cracked Heated; Cracked Priest believed they could “read” these cracks to predict the future Priest believed they could “read” these cracks to predict the future

Other Achievements Bronze containers Bronze containers Jade – axes, knives, ornaments Jade – axes, knives, ornaments Military – chariots, bows, bronze body armor Military – chariots, bows, bronze body armor Astrology – lunar calendar Astrology – lunar calendar

Shang Religion Worshipped spirits (supernatural beings) Worshipped spirits (supernatural beings) Spirits in mountains, rivers, & seas Spirits in mountains, rivers, & seas Must please spirits Must please spirits

Shang Ancestors Ancestors – those from whom one is descended Ancestors – those from whom one is descended Influenced fortunes Influenced fortunes Respect for family Respect for family

Decline of the Shang Gap between rich and poor Gap between rich and poor No loyalty towards each other No loyalty towards each other

End of the Shang 1122 B.C B.C. Zhou invaded Shang Zhou invaded Shang Shang were not united and could not hold off invaders Shang were not united and could not hold off invaders Civilization came to an end Civilization came to an end

Zhou Dynasty

1100s B.C. 1100s B.C. Lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history Lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history Claimed to have the Mandate of Heaven Claimed to have the Mandate of Heaven

Mandate of Heaven Heaven gave power to king / leader and no one ruled without heaven’s permission Heaven gave power to king / leader and no one ruled without heaven’s permission Bad king = heaven supported a new leader Bad king = heaven supported a new leader

Zhou vs Shang West of Shang West of Shang Offered protection of Shang’s western border Offered protection of Shang’s western border Believed Shang leaders became corrupt Believed Shang leaders became corrupt Used Mandate of Heaven to justify rebellion against the Shang Used Mandate of Heaven to justify rebellion against the Shang Conquered Shang – 1122 B.C. Conquered Shang – 1122 B.C. Expanded to Chang Jiang Expanded to Chang Jiang

Zhou Political Order Brought order to China Brought order to China Granted land in exchange for… Granted land in exchange for…-loyalty -military support -other services

Zhou Social Order King King Lords (people of high rank) Lords (people of high rank) -land was given by kings -paid taxes and provided soldiers Peasants – farmers with small farms; farmed additional land for nobles/lord Peasants – farmers with small farms; farmed additional land for nobles/lord

Changes in Political Order Lords passed rule to sons Lords passed rule to sons Sons less loyal to king Sons less loyal to king Local rulers gained more power Local rulers gained more power Many refused to fight against invasions Many refused to fight against invasions Rejected the authority of the king Rejected the authority of the king

Legend - Decline of the Zhou King lit warning fires to entertain friend King lit warning fires to entertain friend Armies rushed to defend Armies rushed to defend Real attack – no one came Real attack – no one came

Decline of Zhou Dynasty 771 B.C. 771 B.C. Zhou were invaded Zhou were invaded Zhou lost battle but survived Zhou lost battle but survived

Warring States Period 481 B.C. 481 B.C. A time of many civil wars A time of many civil wars Lords began fighting each other Lords began fighting each other Lasted more than 200 years Lasted more than 200 years Fighting – brutal & cruel; fighting for territory not honor Fighting – brutal & cruel; fighting for territory not honor

Internal Problems for the Zhou Changes in Chinese family structure (way something is set up or organized) Changes in Chinese family structure (way something is set up or organized) Family had been foundation of life in China Family had been foundation of life in China

Large families formed powerful groups Large families formed powerful groups Loyalty weakened in small families Loyalty weakened in small families Eventually… Eventually… Families broke apart & became rivals Families broke apart & became rivals Sons plotted against each other & their fathers over inheritances Sons plotted against each other & their fathers over inheritances

Result - Warring States Period China lacked a strong central government to stop power struggles within ruling class China lacked a strong central government to stop power struggles within ruling class Chinese society fell into a period of disorder Chinese society fell into a period of disorder